Mark Schwarzer ready for one last shot at the big time with Chelsea

For the glove of the game: Schwarzer trains with his new goalkeeping colleagues (Image: Thananuwat Srirasant)

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Mark Schwarzer admits he is desperate to grasp the big club chance he thought he had lost for good.

The Aussie veteran after being released by Fulham in time to join the Blues on their Far East tour.

Schwarzer will get another 45 minutes to underpin Jose Mourinho's decision against the Indonesian All Stars in the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium tomorrow.

And the former Bradford and Middlesbrough man, who views his move to Stamford Bridge as the perfect way to ensure he is still Australia's first choice for next summer's World Cup Finals, is determined to demonstrate he deserves the opportunity.

Three years ago, Schwarzer seemed destined to join Arsenal, earmarked by Arsene Wenger as Manuel Almunia's replacement, only for the Gunners to refuse to walk the extra mile to pull off the deal.

Schwarzer recalled: ''When I moved to Fulham I thought that was it as far as playing for a really big club.

''Then the Arsenal thing popped up. After that experience I said 'Never say never'. Now it's proven to be true.

''Chelsea are a fantastic club, one of the best in the world and with one of the best managers in the world so it was a pretty easy decision to make.

''It was out of the blue for everyone else but I knew of some interest a while. Towards the end of the season it moved on pretty quickly and I made a decision after speaking to the manager and the rest is history.

''I had a conversation with the manager and he told me his intentions for the season and he said to me 'It's an unbelievable club'.

''It was a great opportunity to join such a fantastic club so I decided to give it a go and after I spoke to the manager I didn't think twice.

''Before I'd spoken to him I had some doubts but once I spoke to the manager those doubts disappeared pretty quickly.''

Schwarzer, of course, knows he is not going to be first choice and that he is a stop-gap deputy to Petr Cech before the likely return of Thibaut Courtois from Atletico Madrid next summer.

But while the 40-year-old - he turns 41 in October – accepts his new status, he also believes he will play a major part in the Blues' campaign.

He added: ''Not being No 1 means there's going to be an adjustment of course but I think the amount of games Chelsea play there is going to be opportunities to play games - and that's also important for me.

''Petr is a great goalkeeper and a good guy. He has been extremely accommodating for me since I arrived and it's been great to work alongside him.

''I think there is a distinct difference in our style. Hopefully I can learn from him and maybe he might learn from me too. I think we can complement each other very well.

''Without a doubt, you are here to win. There are four competitions and you want to win all four if you can.

''And I feel incredibly well. They say the older you get you say that because you are trying to hide your age.

''But I am not trying to hide my age. I am 40 but I feel incredibly well and I am holding my own, no problems whatsoever. I feel incredibly fit and I love playing football. As long as I am playing well enough at this level I will continue to play.''